BAR PRACTICE COURSE

‘REQUIREMENT’

To apply for the BAR, you’ll need to fulfil the requirements set by the Bar
Standards Board:

 Qualifying Law Degree with at least a lower second-class honours

 Minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the IELTS English Test

 Registered with one of the Inns of Court (professional associations for

barristers) 1. Inner Temple 2. Middle Temple 3. Gray’s Inn 4. Lincoln’s Inn

 Passed the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT)

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‘REGULATING BODY’
The Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) is the regulator of barristers in
England and Wales. We are responsible for setting the education and
training requirements for those who wish to practise as barristers in
England and Wales.

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‘REQUIREMENT 1 - ACADEMIC’
The minimum standard for undergraduate law degrees for completion of the
academic component of Bar training is lower second class honours (2:2).

If you have failed to meet the minimum standard in your law degree due to
exceptional circumstances, you may apply to us for the exercise of discretion. If
discretion is granted, you will be able to progress to the vocational component
of Bar training. However, with so many people applying with exceptionally strong academic
records, a 2:2 is quite likely to be ousted in the selection process at quite an early stage

Discretion will be exercised where:a. there is clear evidence that you are
academically of second class quality overall; b. there is clear evidence of a
temporary cause which prevented you from fulfilling your full academic
potential, which has not already been considered by the course provider in the
award of a third class degree;

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
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‘REQUIREMENT 1 - ACADEMIC’
Your law degree must include the seven foundations of legal knowledge
which are:

Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Law of the European Union*;

Obligations 1 (Contract); Obligations 2 (Tort): Property/Land Law; and Public
Law (Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights Law)

In addition to these subjects, your degree or GDL should also cover the skills
associated with graduate legal work such as legal research.

*The UK has now left the European Union. For the purposes of the academic
component of Bar training, the Law of the European Union will continue as
one of the foundation subjects for the foreseeable future. Should this
position change, we will update this document and communicate our position
more widely. There are a number of waivers and exemptions from the
requirements of the academic component, which can all be found on
our waivers and exemptions page. 4
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‘REQUIREMENT 1 - ACADEMIC’
The Bar remains a graduate-only profession, with a minimum classification of
lower second class honours (2:2). If your degree does not meet the minimum
standard, you must apply to the BSB for the exercise of discretion.

You must obtain a UK degree, awarded at Level 6 (or above) of the ‘Framework
for Higher Education Qualifications’, by a recognised degree-awarding body. If
this is a law degree, it must be compliant with the QAA benchmark statement
for law.

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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‘ALTERNATIVE’
If your degree is in a subject other than law,

You took your law degree more than five years ago, or

 Your law degree did not include each of the seven foundation subjects listed
below

You will need to complete a conversion course commonly referred to as a

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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‘ALTERNATIVE – THIRD CLASS?’
 The minimum standard for UK undergraduate degrees for completion of the
academic component of Bar training is 2:2).

If you have failed to meet the minimum standard in your degree due to
exceptional circumstances, you may apply to us for the exercise of discretion. If
discretion is granted, you will be able to undertake the GDL

Discretion will be exercised where:

a. there is clear evidence that you are academically of second class quality
overall; b. there is clear evidence of a temporary cause which prevented you
from fulfilling your full academic potential, which has not already been
considered by the course provider in the award of a third class degree; c. there
is clear evidence that this cause will not render you unsuitable to practise at the
Bar; and d. there is clear evidence of a motivation to qualify and practise

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
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‘REQUIREMENT 1 - ACADEMIC’

Future requirements – post 2020

In order to become a barrister, the requirement to complete the academic

component of Bar training will not change

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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‘’ THE INNS OF COURT”
The Inns of Court or “Inns” are professional membership associations for barristers
in England and Wales.

The Inns of Court or “Inns” are professional membership associations for barristers
in England and Wales. The Inns are mostly non-academic societies which provide
collegiate and educational activities and support for barristers and students. They all
provide the use of a library, lunching and dining facilities, common rooms and
gardens. There are four Inns: Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple and Middle
Temple, all based in London.

First, anyone starting a vocational Bar training course must become a Student
Member of an Inn. The process involves the Inns conducting “fit and proper
person” checks to make sure that only suitable individuals become Student
Members and, ultimately, practising barristers.

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‘’ BCAT”
In additional to meeting the requirements of the academic component, there
are some entry requirements which you must satisfy in order to begin the
vocational component.

Passing the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT – the BCAT tests your aptitude for
critical thinking and reasoning; it does not test legal knowledge. Its aim is to ensure
that those undertaking the Vocational Component of training have the aptitude to
succeed.

The test consists of 60 multiple choice questions, lasts 55 minutes and is completed
on a computer at a test centre. The current cost of the BCAT is £150 if taken inside
the EU, and £170 if taken outside the EU.

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Where to direct your questions or concerns

I want to know more about the different courses which are available

For information about vocational Bar training courses, please contact the providers
directly.

For a list of all the providers we have authorised including links to their websites,
please visit this page on our website.

Source - www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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‘’ 2021 CHANGES”

Our 2021 AETO Factsheet shows the AETOs which are authorised to deliver
the vocational component of Bar training. It contains some basic information
about the different routes, modes, start dates and fees at each AETO.
However, for more information on exactly what each AETO will offer and
how to apply, you should contact the AETOs individually or visit their
website. There is no longer a central application system.

These Bar training courses replaced the BPTC from September 2020. As
there are now several different ways for people to train for the Bar, there is
no longer one common course title.

However, you can be reassured that all of the AETOs you see listed on this
webpage and on our Factsheet have been authorised to deliver courses that
lead to Call to the Bar.

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‘’ WHY THE CHANGE?”
BTC is a shorter (8 months, as opposed to 12), more flexible

BTC is divided into two distinct, four-month teaching blocks, with

students able to pause their studies upon completion of stage one.

 Part-time study (23 months) will also be available in London(BPP)

 BTC is also significantly more affordable

Option to integrate the BTC into a master’s degree

School have more freedom when it comes to delivering their

courses.

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‘BAR TRAINING PROVIDERS’

We refer to Bar training providers as Authorised Education and Training

Organisations (AETOs). The following organisations have been authorised to
deliver Bar training from September 2020:

BPP University
Cardiff University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Northumbria University
Nottingham Trent University
The City Law School, City, University of London
The Inns of Court College of Advocacy
The University of Law
The University of the West of England (UWE)

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‘’ EXAMPLE- NORTHUMBRIA”
The new Bar Courses will be available from September 2020 and will replace
the existing Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) £12,000

Requirements
A minimum of a 2.1 in a Qualifying Law Degree. (2:2 SUBJECT TO DISCRETION OR INTERVIEW)

Applicants must demonstrate that their English language ability is at least equivalent to: a
minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the IELTS academic test

The Bar Standards Board mandate that applicants MUST have been admitted to an Inn of Court
before commencing the Bar Course. Applicants can apply for the programme prior to joining an inn
but will not receive an unconditional offer to join the Bar Course unless they can provide evidence
of membership of an Inn of Court.

Applicants must take and pass the BCAT before commencing the Bar Course. Applicants may apply
for the programme prior to passing the BCAT but will not receive an unconditional offer to study on
the Bar Course until they have provided evidence they have passed.

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‘’ EXAMPLE- CARDIFF”

To enrol on the course you need to have: (₤18 K)

1. completed your academic stage;

2. obtained a 2:1 class degree or higher (a 2.2 class degree will be considered
on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the application in its
entirety);

3. been admitted as a student member of one of the four Inns of Court;

4. satisfied the English language requirement; and

5. passed the Bar Aptitude test.

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The University of London LLB

The University of London LLB consists of 12 modules for those on the

Standard Entry route and nine modules for those on the Graduate Entry
route. Both routes have six compulsory modules. All students must study
Contract law, Criminal law, Public law, Tort law and Jurisprudence and legal
theory. Standard Entry students must also study Legal system and method
and Graduate entry students must pass the non-credit bearing module
Introduction to English law.

If you want your LLB to fulfil the academic stage of Bar training, you will
need to achieve the seven foundations of legal knowledge. If you want your
LLB to be recognised in another common law jurisdiction you will need to
ensure that you comply with local regulations and study the required subjects
as part of your degree.

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The Seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge
The seven foundations of legal knowledge are the subjects you must study,
and pass the assessments in, as part of your law degree if you want to fulfil
the academic component of training for the Bar. Although the UK has now
left the European Union, EU law is still one of the foundations of legal
knowledge and, the Bar Standards Board has said that it is expected to remain
a foundation subject for the foreseeable future. The seven foundations of legal
knowledge are covered in these University of London modules:

Contract law;
Criminal law;
Equity and Trusts;
EU law;
Property law;
Public law; and
Tort law.
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Academic component of Bar training

The University of London LLB fulfils the academic component of training for
the Bar provided that your degree includes the modules covering the seven
foundations of legal knowledge and you achieve at least a Lower Second class
(2:2) award and you begin the vocational component of training within five
years of graduating. A law degree that does not fulfil these three
requirements is treated in the same way as any other degree and you would
need to complete a conversion course to fulfil the academic component.

Vocational component of Bar training

There are a number of ways to complete the vocational component and you
should look at the Authorised Education and Training Organisations on the
Bar Standards Board website to see the range of routes available.

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